Hello everyone I am going to ireland for a great program of book discussion. Please tell me, what books or poems should I read to aquaint myself with the Irish style of writing and the irish attitude in general? Is Joyce a good introduction? Portrait of dorian grey? Please let me know.
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Read Yeats and start believing in faries.
Will I see faries during my time in Eire
>Will I see faries during my time in Eire
I hope so.
Fair fairies and green nymphs.
Bring an umbrella
>aquaint myself with the Irish style of writing
A long time ago, and a very good one at that, bla bla bla.
>the irish attitude in general
Too complicated. The most common sentiments are what some people may call "anti-semitism", love freedom (simple as), and the non-deracinated love the Irish race and Ireland.
>the irish attitude is… love of the irish
Wow thanks for this incredible observation I could not tell
>Tell me things, but read my mind on what I may or may not already know
feminine
But I asked for reccomendations on texts to read. That was very specific. Was just kidding around though dont worry about it anon
I'm not really bent out of shape about it. It's all really just very complicated. We've got a lot of really beaten down people, who basically just got fricked by the system to the point of just being dead inside. It's really fricking depressing, especially because they tend to stick to the status quo, so whatever the latest $IDEA is, that's their mode of thinking. It's not exclusive to Ireland nor is it the only idea, it's just it really depends on where you're at. Like Dublin? Absolute shithole, avoid at all costs, but there are plenty of nicer places. I always love the Gaeltachts, but you'd have to actually know the language, so just kinda stay away from there. In the anglosphere, my little experience of NI is a mixed bag, plenty of really burnt out guys that are really nice when they're finally mellowed out from work, but Donegal is still pretty great and people are like a perfect mixture of kind and leaving you the frick alone to do your own thing.
I'd suggest trying to read the cycles. Stick to pre-1950's renditions of the cycles though. Lady Augusta Gregory is very influencial, despite taking quite a bit of liberties. Oscar Wilde is obviously a good idea. Check out Eilís Dillon, Liam Mac Uistín, Padraic Colum.
Joyce is great, but just read the Dubliners first. That's what most people will have read, if anything. I know, Ulysses and all that. I have all of his works, plus the study shit to go with it. But that's a very specific niche, and you'll find mostly irish-americans are into it.
Caoimhin De Barra's Gaeilge: A Radical Revolution will give you an idea of the language and general feelings of it.
Oh, check out The Tain. (That's part of the cycles) people generally agree Kinsella's translation is pretty great.
Oh and read up on Patrick Pearse's murder machine. If you're older, read up on Peg and complain a little. Or don't. Peg isn't even that bad.
Anyways, that's all I have. It's late and I have shit to do. Oh, but real quick. An outsider might find Dublin interesting. Now, I'm not from Dublin, but it's a depressing hellscape when you see your people in that state. You ever been to downtown Austin, Texas or look at mid/south California's streets? Same shit, different dialect.
What is your opinion on the state of the Irish people now? You used to be great poets, writers, artist, painters and magic people. Not to mention greatly religious. But it feels like if you have lost all your identity.
>You used to be great poets, writers, artist, painters and magic people. Not to mention greatly religious. But it feels like if you have lost all your identity.
what trying to catch Belfast does to a micky.
In history, there has always been an ebb and flow. We have always seen greatness come back during conflict, and the entire world is in a major conflict. From economic and social problems to mass disillusionment with the liberal worldview that has been so dominant for so long up to actual warfare.
I'm sure positive things are around the corner.. and I don't say that as some kind of blind optimism. Right now, yeah, things suck. But we've had another revival drumming up over the last few years. The interest in the language, itself, has been overwhelmingly great all while in-group preference continues to rise back upwards. Hell, we've even seen a lot more Irish actors gaining popularity. I didn't really expect that one. All we're missing is a handful of writers that lean nationalist and all this bad will finally start to wash away.
If there's anything Ireland needs, it's more sectarianism and maudlin nostalgia
I like it. Nice
Might like some Patrick Kavannagh poetry if you lean towards the rustic side of things. His novel Tarry Flynn is very good as well.
>http://IQfylit.wikia.com/wiki/Recommended_Reading
there's a chart or two filed under charts by country
>all recs a hundred years old
As is the custom.
For something a bit more contemporary, try Colm Toibin, Sinead Morrissey, Paul Muldoon, William Trevor, Michael Longley, John McGahern, Derek Mahon or John Banville
The Turner Diaries
>Irish IQfy
No thanks
Guys I'd like to have a vacation home on the west Coast of Ireland. Cringe or based? County mayo probably but open to others
Why is Irish folklore so comfy bros?
Irish have more soul than most countries
The ethereal-yet-human quality, gods simply wandering the landscape yet they feel more human than the Greek or Norse gods.